Haffenden re-elected NZRL chairman

Ray Haffenden was re-elected chairman by New Zealand Rugby League's new board.

Haffenden took over after Andrew Chalmers quit in November last year amid rumours that the NZRL had accumulated huge debts under his stewardship.

The board's three independent directors - Glenda Hughes, Simon Doig and Eddie Mathews - also stepped down at the same time as Chalmers.

Haffenden was confirmed in the position on Friday night while Vince Weir was elected vice chairman, filling the vacancy created by Phil Campbell's resignation from the board earlier this year.

Trevor Maxwell was re-elected president.

Haffenden said he was confident the board would be in a position by next month to name the three new independent directors to join the other six board members (Haffenden, Weir, Peter Kerridge, Neville Kesha, John Bray and Malcolm Cherrie).

"We have made good progress and we expect to be able to announce those three new board members at our next meeting in May," he said.

"We also have our process in place to appoint a chief executive. That was a decision we announced at the annual meeting and we're working through this thoroughly to secure the best candidate we can for the position."

Haffenden confirmed Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney had joined Darrell Williams and Tony Kemp as a national selector. Howie Tamati remains as convener of the panel while Wayne Bennett, appointed as the Kiwis' coaching and management adviser for the May 9 Centenary Test, would also have an advisory role in selection.